UHON 302-020: SPARE STORIES, POTENT MUSIC: THE LEGACY OF STORY IN SONG
Time/Room:
Instructor: Michael Thomas PhD.
Phone: 277-4211, 573-1656 (Dr. T)
e-mail: mthomas@unm.edu
People have always taken stories and turned them into songs. Why? What makes some stories so special? What makes the resulting ballads so compelling? What can we learn about a culture by looking at the stories people celebrate in song? There are no certain answers: the answers are in the songs. We can say that stories told in song are compressed stories, stories reduced to their fundamentals. We can say that popular songs reflect the values and value conflicts of the people who sing and listen. MP3 technology provides ways to hear the music, explore the lyrics, and reflect upon the songs.
In this seminar we listen to songs and talk about them, how they entertain, engage, and inform. We will look at songs as stories with characters,
character development, plot, voice, etc. all the dimensions of fiction.We will research songs and the stories they tell in terms of what they reveal about culture.
We will examine some very ancient, venerable folk ballads as well as songs in contemporary genres (rock, hip‑hop, C&W, etc.).
SEMINAR REQUIREMENTS/GRADES
READINGS:
Much of the content for this class will be in the form of songs. The instructor will provide songs in MP3 format along with lyric files in MS Word format for common assigments.
Required Books:
Reserve Readings:
All students should purchase a high speed (2.0) USB Flashdrive with at least 1 Gb memory. Assigned songs will be downloaded from the Song and Story database onto these drives. (These small drives are also called “Jump Drives” or “Thumb Drives.”
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: Students who miss class for any reason will lose participation points. A student who does not attend a particular seminar session cannot hear the music played nor contribute to the discourse. This is true whether the student is ill, grieving, or acting on a whim. Students will, therefore lose 3 points per absence up to 15 points. I will simply assume that any student unfortunate enough to miss class has a good reason for doing so. Students can discuss make-up arrangements with the instructor privately. The Listening/Discussion sessions, however, are less formal. If a student misses a Listening/Discussion session, he or she can make up for this by completing the listening assignment and submitting a 600 word report on the songs included in the assignment.
SCHEDULE:
Oct. 31 - Ballad Analysis Paper
Nov. 9 – Research Project Proposal
Nov. 21 – Research Progress Report/Presentation
Nov. 30, Dec 5 - Research Report Presentation Sessions
Dec. 7 - Final Research Report Paper
NOTE: This is the first paragraph of the UNM Policy on Academic Dishonesty:
“Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in academic and professional matters. The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action up to and including dismissal against any student who is found guilty of academic dishonesty or otherwise fails to meet the standards. Any student judged to have engaged in academic dishonesty in course work may receive a reduced or failing grade for the work in question.” Pathfinder, The UNM Student Handbook p. 58
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| Broadsheet ballads of the 19th century were popular, cheap, and often topical |
Time/Room:
- Seminar Sessions MW 4:30-5:45 #22 SHC
- Listening/Discussion Sessions W 5:45-7:45 #22 SHC
Instructor: Michael Thomas PhD.
Phone: 277-4211, 573-1656 (Dr. T)
e-mail: mthomas@unm.edu
People have always taken stories and turned them into songs. Why? What makes some stories so special? What makes the resulting ballads so compelling? What can we learn about a culture by looking at the stories people celebrate in song? There are no certain answers: the answers are in the songs. We can say that stories told in song are compressed stories, stories reduced to their fundamentals. We can say that popular songs reflect the values and value conflicts of the people who sing and listen. MP3 technology provides ways to hear the music, explore the lyrics, and reflect upon the songs.
In this seminar we listen to songs and talk about them, how they entertain, engage, and inform. We will look at songs as stories with characters,
character development, plot, voice, etc. all the dimensions of fiction.We will research songs and the stories they tell in terms of what they reveal about culture.
We will examine some very ancient, venerable folk ballads as well as songs in contemporary genres (rock, hip‑hop, C&W, etc.).
SEMINAR REQUIREMENTS/GRADES
- Research consisting of the following:
- A brief report on a ballad(s). (15pts)
- A one page research project proposal (5pts)
- A brief oral research
progress report with one page synopsis (15pts)
Mexican ballads (Corridos) also addressed popular issues. - A final research paper or performance based on research (35pts)
- A brief presentation based on the paper (10pts).
- Participation: attendance, participation in class activities, and professional demeanor. (20pts).
READINGS:
Much of the content for this class will be in the form of songs. The instructor will provide songs in MP3 format along with lyric files in MS Word format for common assigments.
Required Books:
Reserve Readings:
- American Popular Music: From Minstrelsy To MTV edited by L Starr and C. Waterman (selections)
- English and Scottish Ballads Vol. 1-8 by Francis James Child (Selections)
All students should purchase a high speed (2.0) USB Flashdrive with at least 1 Gb memory. Assigned songs will be downloaded from the Song and Story database onto these drives. (These small drives are also called “Jump Drives” or “Thumb Drives.”
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Students completing this course should be able to identify and characterize narrative voice in story songs from several cultures.
- Students completing this course should be able to identify and characterize plot elements in story songs.
- Students completing this course should be able to use perspectives from several disciplines to identify features of narrative that render a story song more or less effective .
- Students completing this course should be able to use perspectives from several disciplines to accurately assess the role of the balladeers and musical performers through history.
- Students completing this course should be able be able to use perspectives from several disciplines to accurately assess the social impact of story songs on historical and modern societies.
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: Students who miss class for any reason will lose participation points. A student who does not attend a particular seminar session cannot hear the music played nor contribute to the discourse. This is true whether the student is ill, grieving, or acting on a whim. Students will, therefore lose 3 points per absence up to 15 points. I will simply assume that any student unfortunate enough to miss class has a good reason for doing so. Students can discuss make-up arrangements with the instructor privately. The Listening/Discussion sessions, however, are less formal. If a student misses a Listening/Discussion session, he or she can make up for this by completing the listening assignment and submitting a 600 word report on the songs included in the assignment.
SCHEDULE:
Oct. 31 - Ballad Analysis Paper
Nov. 9 – Research Project Proposal
Nov. 21 – Research Progress Report/Presentation
Nov. 30, Dec 5 - Research Report Presentation Sessions
Dec. 7 - Final Research Report Paper
NOTE: This is the first paragraph of the UNM Policy on Academic Dishonesty:
“Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in academic and professional matters. The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action up to and including dismissal against any student who is found guilty of academic dishonesty or otherwise fails to meet the standards. Any student judged to have engaged in academic dishonesty in course work may receive a reduced or failing grade for the work in question.” Pathfinder, The UNM Student Handbook p. 58